"Brother Zhuo, I'll leave it to you to keep a close eye on them." Ping Xin patted Zhuo Koshigaya's shoulder. Although he was often forgotten due to his extremely weak presence, he was actually the oldest and most reliable one in the group, even though he was always ordered around by his sister.

"..." Taku Koshigaya nodded silently, pushing up his glasses. It seemed that the hot spring steam was causing his glasses to fog up easily. Was that really okay?

"Anyway... let's go!"

"Oh!"

......

...

..

After dropping off their luggage at the hotel they'd reserved in advance and enjoying lunch, Hirashin and his group set off towards Lake Toya. It was a shame they arrived a bit late, as the area would have been much busier with the daily film screenings and fireworks displays from late April to mid-October. But that was probably just a tactic to attract off-season tourists, wasn't it?

It can only be said that the more you think about it, the harder it is to get real happiness. Ping Xin shook his head and put all these things behind him. Enjoying the time with everyone at this moment is more important than anything else.

"Wow... I didn't expect there were boats here, that looks pretty cool!"

"Pingxin Pingxin, where are we going now?"

"Well... since we just finished eating, why don't we all take a walk and relax for a while."

A few people felt their stomachs. Honestly, they'd eaten a bit too much, thanks to a rich and delicious lunch, complete with an unlimited dessert buffet. If I had to describe it, it would be... I'd probably gain 5 pounds if I wasn't careful.

After walking for a few minutes, Hirashin finally found what he wanted to talk about. Pointing to a bronze sculpture by the roadside, he said, "By the way, did you know there's an art gallery here that spans the two towns of Toyako and Sobetsu, circling the entire lake. There are 2 sculptures, stretching 58 kilometers. It's called the 'Harmony between Man and Nature Outdoor Sculpture Park.'"

Everyone gathered around and looked at the statue carefully.

"Is this... a face?"

"Why put a face here, and the name is..."Moonlight"? "

I can only say that this is indeed the work of a professional artist. I really don't understand it at all.

We continued along the lakeside, admiring the crystal-clear blue water and the leafless, withered trees, a truly ethereal beauty. Of course, we encountered other sculptures along the way. Besides the incredibly realistic female figure "Ode to the Sun," whose name was completely baffling, there were also some that were easily understood and elicited a smile.

But as expected...

"What is this?"

"No, no, what is this?"

"Hmm...what the hell is this?"

Sure enough, the so-called art is always difficult to understand.

Chapter 74 The Meaning of Painting

After walking around for a few minutes, the group abandoned the few statues that they could understand and came to the Science Museum.

It is important to go out to enjoy the scenery and learn knowledge, only then can it be called healthy!

In fact, the volcano here is not extinct, but an active volcano that has erupted in recent years (as described in the book). At the end of March 2000, Mount Usu erupted for the fourth time in 3 years. The eruption lasted for more than 100 days and nearly razed the surrounding villages to the ground, but no casualties were reported.

Today, the Volcano Science Museum and Konpira Ruins built on the shores of Lake Toya use audio, video, and real objects to recreate the scene of the volcanic eruption. Now, Hirashin and his companions are experiencing this service, using the power of science to present the unparalleled power of nature to them.

Honestly, it was quite shocking. After all, even Ping Xin was lost in thought.

"..." Even though he had already walked out of the venue, Ping Xin still looked like he was thinking, and this look naturally attracted the attention of others.

"Hirashin!" Asuna, who was walking beside him, hugged him from the side and continued to ask, "What are you thinking about? Do you want to see a volcanic eruption with your own eyes? After all, it's really amazing, right?!"

"Oh my god, don't!" Hearing what Ichinose Asuna said, Hirayuki was even scared out of his wits. It is said that when a person is truly frightened, the words he shouts out instinctively are his mother tongue. Obviously, Asuna has done something that even hundreds of gyūdō and thousands of delinquents have not been able to do. She successfully frightened Hirayuki.

Women are indeed born strong, Asuna will definitely defeat Hirayuma in seconds!

Ahem... Anyway, it might sound like a joke to other people, but it's not so funny when it comes from Asuna. After all, she has unrivaled, almost heaven-blessed luck in this world. If anything were to happen, Heishin would be fully responsible!

Such a big reaction also attracted the attention of the others around him. Facing his girlfriends' big, watery eyes, Ping Xin had to bite the bullet and explain, "Actually... I was just thinking."

"Uh-huh!"

"Thinking... probably about how to fight against volcanoes."

"...Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Fighting a volcano? Do ordinary people think about how to fight a volcano? Has anyone in this world really thought about how to fight a volcano?

If powerful creatures like lions, tigers, and elephants can be referred to as "confrontational," then what kind of people would think about how to confront inanimate objects like volcanoes, which can cause natural disasters?

You can draw the conclusion without thinking -

"...Master Pingxin must be suffering from another bout of paranoia, right?"

really?

That's what most people would think, right? But unfortunately, Hirayuko is absolutely serious! After all, in the JoJo series, the source of their biggest cheat, the second installment features the Wave Warrior Jotaro leading an immortal Ultimate Creature to a volcano in an attempt to destroy it with the power of nature. And against beings with such remarkable resilience like Hirayuko, this seems like a relatively easy solution. Wouldn't they have been thrown into the furnace like the Terminator?

Besides, since they were in the East, a country with frequent geological activity, prone to earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, they'd have a plan in place if they did happen. Hei Xin had a backup plan in mind, but it was still better to think about it...

Even a powerful Ultimate Creature stopped thinking. The more invincible a creature is, the more likely it is that it will become a stepping stone. Shouldn't people be more cautious?

Shen Yong thinks it's great.jpg

......

...

..

It was a pity that the Forest Museum on Nakajima was closed because it was winter. I had wanted to go there to see the sika deer. Although the Disney Princess Show 2.0 failed, we were still able to take a sightseeing boat to enjoy the natural beauty.

Despite the snow the previous night, the weather was clear today. In the distance, one could see Mount Yotei, which resembled Mount Fuji. Honestly, even he momentarily misunderstood it as some rare marine mirage. After checking the encyclopedia, he discovered it was nicknamed "Ezo Fuji." It was a truly remarkable imitation.

Lake Toya is surrounded by mountains on almost all sides, so you can see the scenery of mountains and forests in any direction. The volcanoes and the sound of waves under your feet make people so interested that they don’t want to leave the deck and return to the warm cabin even in the slightly cold weather.

Of course, it definitely didn’t matter that I worked with him for a long time but the fish bucket was empty!

The catamaran Heishin was on was called "Espoir," which means hope in French. Its all-white hull resembled a medieval castle, though it wasn't as impressive as the ones I'd seen in person. I heard they sail every night during the summer fireworks display, so I'd definitely go back next summer if I get the chance.

But before that, there were still things that needed to be done. After this day's play, he was probably able to confirm the existence of a certain problem -

......

...

..

"Delicious!" After taking a bite of the food in front of him, Natsumi Koshitani lived up to everyone's expectations and exclaimed loudly, "This curry is really delicious, and the scallop meat is so fresh. This taste is simply... simply pro (professional)!... Although I haven't eaten professional ones either -"

True, after all, we've always lived in the village. And it wasn't the usual "take a bite, open your eyes wide, cover your mouth, and exclaim, 'Oui! (Delicious)'" trifecta, which made Pingxin very pleased. Even rural middle school girls are better at food reviews than you, on some shows!

Point and point.jpg

"This curry is made with Tomakomai's specialty, hoki clams, and a secret blend of spices prepared in advance. Theoretically, this curry should be quite spicy, but considering everyone's taste, we ended up with a sweet and spicy taste."

Hei Xin struck his familiar pose, missing the usual "I'm sorry for the poor service." But these Hokugi clams were a gift from Uncle Le, and they haven't gone bad in all these days... I know, it must be because of the high-quality ice cubes (laughs).

Well, actually it’s that…ripple preservation method again, isn’t it magical~?

"...Has Ren-chan finished eating yet?"

"Well, I'm going to paint—"

It seemed that she was not affected by the changes in the external environment at all. Miyauchi Renka was the first one to finish her dinner. Could it be that the food was not to her liking?

No, obviously not. If that's the case, the problem is a bit serious...

"Pingxin, what are you thinking about? If you don't want to eat this prawn tempura, just give it to me~" Nilu beside Pingxin smiled, but the smile was a bit provocative.

"...If you want it, come get it yourself. You already know the rules—"

There were no flashes of swords and sabers... There were only two pairs of chopsticks confronting each other in the air, already looking for an angle to attack. The aura of a powerful master filled the dining hall, creating an atmosphere of impending storm!

"If you like it, grandma, I have some more here."

After hearing what Grandma Liuhua said, Nilu was obviously upset. She accidentally started playing around like usual and ended up getting caught again just like in the morning!

"No, it's okay, it's just that... Yeah, we usually play around like this!"

"Right—right!"

"Ah, my chicken nuggets!"

Taking advantage of the moment, Ping Xin decisively took action, scooped up the fried chicken nuggets, and immediately put them into his mouth. His first move was a beast... He was always aggressive. As the saying goes, the dinner table is a battlefield, and on a battlefield, distraction is a precursor to "death"!

......

...

..

After dinner, Ping Xin came to Miyauchi Renka's room, but he only waited for—

"?"

"Hey, Ren-chan, it's special lesson time. Do you know...what the meaning of the painting is?"

Chapter 75 Gift

"What is the...meaning of the painting?"

Hearing a certain keyword, Renge lowered her brush and slowly turned around. Ever since dinner, she'd been sitting by the French window, observing the scenery of Lake Toya and its surroundings while painting. If Hirayuki hadn't mentioned "painting," she might not have even turned around.

Seeing the little girl even more silent than when they first met, even refusing to greet him with "Nyanpas," Hirayuko felt a pang of pain. But he didn't show it, simply continuing, "It seems Ren-chan was working hard while I was gone. That's impressive... By the way, what have you been studying and drawing lately?"

After closing the door, Hirayūnobu also sat on the floor. Although the hot spring town was quite humid, the inn was remarkably warm and dry, without a hint of musty air. Sitting on the green tatami, Hirayūnobu's legs crossed, his upper body erect, slightly lower than Miyauchi Renka, who sat in the chair, the two of them stared at each other from a distance.

"I......"

Next, he listened patiently to Lianhua's words, listening to her talk about how she had taught herself the painting concepts of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci because his full name was long, in the past six months, and then repeatedly painted some scenes in different styles.

To be honest, most of these were completely unknown to Hirayū. He was lucky to be able to recall a few artists he had read about in textbooks. While hearing these made him feel Miyauchi Renka's talent and hard work, it wasn't what he wanted to hear.

Miyauchi Renka is just a little girl in the first grade of elementary school. What she should talk about is what knowledge she learned from her teacher at school, what games she played with her classmates, whether the food in the lunch box was delicious, whether she was scolded for eating too many snacks, how the pets at home became furry for the winter, and how the trees on the roadside lost all their leaves and became bare.

She should explore the world according to her own personality, interests, and ideas. In the process, she should constantly make mistakes and learn and improve, and finally find what she wants to do and what she truly loves, and then work hard for it.

"Instead of like now..."

Instead of becoming an emotionless painting machine like now!

A walking corpse walking with his head down on the path arranged by others!

"Brother Pingxin, are you...crying?"

Miyauchi Renka became flustered. Although her sister Miyauchi Ichiho would occasionally show a lonely and complicated expression because of her own changes in the past six months, sometimes Natsumi and the others would be distressed because they couldn't find anyone to play games with. Xiaoxiaoju would be annoyed because she was drawn too cute, and the opposite was true for Hotaru.

But they were always happy, and so this seven-year-old, first-grade student failed to recognize her "mistake," a change that slowly made her unlike herself. While this undoubtedly enabled her to efficiently master knowledge and quickly establish her own painting concepts and style during her childhood, allowing this talented girl to mature into a qualified painter much earlier, in other words...

Isn't this just exchanging her deprived childhood for a result of forcing her growth?

And this is absolutely the opposite of Ping Xin’s philosophy!

In his eyes, children should eat, sleep, and grow up healthily, learning knowledge while exploring the world with their own hands and eyes. Therefore, even for a child as talented and well-trained as Ryuna, Heishin mainly adopts a more relaxed and happy education.

Now that you've achieved what you should at this age, what's the point in catching up? The happy use their childhood to heal their entire lives, while the unfortunate use their entire lives to heal their childhood. Ping Xin, who experienced this firsthand and gradually learned to enjoy and have fun in his later years, absolutely understands this truth!

Because of this, he regretted it, regretting that he had spoken so casually yet so heavily, turning his expectations into a heavy burden placed on the shoulders of such a small child. Although this was not his wish, it was the outcome he had brought about after "taking it for granted".

Therefore, he must take responsibility for this and correct the mistake.

"That's enough..."

"?"

"You've worked hard enough, so let's go rest now... Oh, and how about we go soak in the hot springs? Lake Toya's hot springs are very famous. The mildly salty water here is very moisturizing and is also effective for gastrointestinal ailments and chronic muscular rheumatism. A full three million tourists visit here every year."

"But..." Miyauchi Renka was still hesitating.

Because the painting in her hand has not been finished yet, this is the assignment she has left for herself today. She cannot rest until it is completed. This is also the rule she set for herself.

"Okay, okay, Ren-chan, just listen to my advice as your teacher... This is also part of the teaching. I'm sure that learning this lesson will definitely help your painting, and it will be a great help." Ping Xin walked over and gently touched her head with his right hand.

"Well... we get it."

Miyauchi Renka turned around and took out her children's swimsuit from her bag. Although the traditional practice in hot springs is to be naked and open, that is not necessary!

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